Vol. 80 No. 14 by The Signal

NOV. 27 - DEC. 3, 2012

VOL. 80 | NO. 14

like us! facebook.com/gsusignal

inside

special a&l edition The semester’s almost over. Celebrate early with your complete guide to the holidays.

section b

HAIRY HOLIDAYS It’s No Shave November: the month where manscaping (or lack thereof) allows men to observe the health of their private parts.

equal but different A Georgia State professor takes a look at the chemical difference between men and women.

special feature | page 6a

news | PAGE 3a

swing away

Laura Sanchez and Tyler Gruca on how they found their golf swings in Atlanta.

sports | PAGE 10a

online exclusive arts & living

the josh peck interview The Red Dawn star on action movies, explosions and if he’ll ever go back to Nickelodeon.

Daily news at www.georgiastatesignal.com

News 3a

Opinions 7A

Sports 9a

Arts & Living section b

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

last week... Local

Black Friday shoppers had to fight long lines and protesters at two Atlanta Wal-Marts. About twodozen protesters lined up outside of the Wal-Mart at Howell Mill at Interstate 75. The group was quiet, except for one shopper in an SUV that drove through the crowd of protesters. A solidarity rally was held at the Wal-Mart in Avondale Crossing. Fred Tokars, the notorious Atlanta man that murdered his wife in front of his two young children, has been helping investigators solve other murders. The convict has assisted law enforcement in solving six murders. Tokars said he wants to leave a positive legacy for his sons. Atlanta’s Eastside Trail, part of the city’s Beltline project, has successfully drawn our residents looking for some fresh air. The 14-foot wide path follows suit of the other Atlanta Beltline parks that have been popping up all over the city.

National

The investigation of a Massachusetts natural gas explosion is still underway. The explosion last Friday destroyed a strip club and a daycare center. Fourty-two buildings were damaged and 18 people were injured. The University System of Maryland is possibly in violation of an Open Meetings Act. The board met privately to discuss joining the Big Ten Con-

ference, a violation of Maryland First Amendment laws. Professors at Dartmouth College found that routine mammograms have led to unnecessary breast cancer treatment. The study, which was published by the New England Journal of Medicine last week, found that more than one million women were unnecessarily treated for breast cancer over the last three decades.

World

A fire in a Bangladesh factory left more than 100 people dead last week. Many more were injured and in local hospitals. Firefighters said it took more than 17 hours to stop the flames at the Tazreen Fashions factory outside of Dhaka. The cause of the deaths was inadequate escape routes for employees. A student was dead in Afghan University after a religious fight. Sunni Muslim students tried to prevent Shiite students from observing Ashura inside a mosque on campus. Police, who were called in to break up the fight, said as many as three students could have been killed but only one has been confirmed. Congolese rebels continued to move on government territory in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo last week. Regional leaders met in Uganda last Saturday to urge rebels to withdraw from the area. Last Tuesday the rebels took the city of Goma.

Weather WED 59/32

source: weather.com THURS 61/36

FRI 63/41

SAT 63/43

SUN 64/41

blotter

November 20

November 17

General Classroom Building

Piedmont North

A report was filed for theft. A student stated he left his class and proceeded to his next class. Later he realized he left his bag on the classroom. When he returned it had been stolen. The bag contained his books along with his iPhone. Commons Parking Deck P1 Level Officers responded to a call of a vehicle on fire. When officers arrived they observed a fire coming from the hood of the vehicle. Officers attempted to distinguish the fire with negative results. The building was evacuated. AFD arrived and extinguished the fire. The fire was caused by an electrical problem. Gilmer Street A student stated she let an unidentified male use her iPhone cell phone. She handed the individual her cell phone and he fled.

November 21 University Commons

Officers issued two Non-GSU individuals a Criminal Trespass Warning. Officers were advised of an individual trying to gain access into the Commons using another person’s access card. Officers made contact with the individuals and confirmed that the access card belonged to a GSU student. The student was not present during the incident. They were issued a CTW and escorted from the property.

Officers arrested a student for drunkenness. Officers responded to a sick or injured person call and made contact with a male who was lying on the floor semiunconscious. It was determined the individual was underage and intoxicated; he was transported to Grady for medical attention, and arrested, processed and released on a copy of charges

November 16 General Classroom Building

A student stated she left her jacket with her iPhone cell phone on a chair and when she returned she realized her phone had been stolen.

Park Place

A staff member stated two light panels and two storage boxes were stolen from a secured room. This case is being handled by investigations

Piedmont North

A report was filed for suspicious person. A Georgia State security officer notified police about an unknown male entering the property improperly. The information was confirmed the individual was subsequently cited and escorted off the property

Woodruff

Officers responded to an assis-

tance call regarding a Non-GSU individual fighting and leaving the scene. An officer made contact with the subject and detained him for Atlanta Police Department.

Standard Building

A report was filed for theft. A student stated he left his Huawei cell phone on a chair and when he returned he realized his phone had been stolen. This case is being handled by investigations.

Freshman Housing

A report was filed for criminal trespass warning. A police officer made contact with a male subject attempting to gain unauthorized access. The individual was subsequently barred from all Georgia State Property and escorted off campus.

November 15 Turner Field

A report was filed for criminal damage to property. A student stated she parked her vehicle at 7:00 a.m., and when she returned at 1:00 p.m., someone had shattered her rear windshield and nothing was stolen. This case is being handled by investigations

University Commons

A report was filed for a criminal trespass warning. A Security officer informed police of a male attempting to gain unauthorized access. Contact was made and subsequently, the individual was barred from Georgia State property.

Take Advantage of Discount Tickets through the Student•University Center

Atlanta Hawks Home Games GSU students, faculty and staﬀ can now purchase discounted tickets online to attend select 2012-13 Atlanta Hawks home games as they take on their 45th season.

Discounts range from 10 to 40 percent oﬀ regular ticket prices, with no online fees or additional taxes. For a link and access code to purchase Hawks tickets, visit www.gsu.edu/ticketdiscounts.

Holiday Attractions Biltmore House Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Stone Mountain Park and Snow Mountain Walt Disney World

Gifts for Family and Friends Georgia Aquarium Movie Tickets Zoo Atlanta Tickets to movies, theme parks and other attractions make great holiday gifts, and the attractive discounts available through the Student•University Center mean you can aﬀord to buy a few for your holiday outings as well!

Most discount tickets can be purchased at the Information Center on the first floor of the Student Center; some are available only online and some are available at both outlets.

More Info: www.gsu.edu/ticketdiscounts

Supported by Student Activity Fees

NEWS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/news

Equal but different Research shows hormonal differences in the brain balance behavior out In his research, Georgia State Professor Dr. Geert deVries has found that male prairie voles produce far more of the hormone vasopressin in the brain. DeVries theorizes that this difference in hormones may be to compensate for differences between the sexes. MILES KEENLYSIDE Opinions Editor

S Vasopressin is a hormone that is produced in the brain. Originally thought to only regulate body functions such as fluid filtration and dialysis in the kidneys, new research is showing that it may have some connections to the regulation of behavior, as well. Research has connected the production of vasopressin in male Prairie Voles with paternal behavior. The molecule is classified as a peptide hormone and can be found in most mammals.

In this colored image, vasopressin messages in the brain are highlighted yellow. Vasopressin production is much more concentrated in the brain of a male rat (pictured on the right) than in the brain of a female rat (pictured on the left).

ometimes it’s the things that make us different are what end up making us the same. Dr. Geert deVries of Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute is conducting research on hormonal differences between male and female brain chemistry in mammals and the effect these differences have on behavior. . Chemical differences in male and female brains might be the body’s way of creating behavioral similarities for opposite sexes. “I had no idea about differences in the brain between male and females. So I looked at animals irrespective or whether they were males or females. I got very messy results,” deVries said. “I found that in some animals the system that I was looking at developed quite early and in other animals it just lagged behind. It was so messy that I thought it would be hard to publish. We did something wrong.” It was not until he separated the data into male and female groups that he noticed the clear distinction. He discovered the system that produces the hormone vasopressin develops much earlier in males than it does in females. This was the first report on differences between the neurotransmitter systems between male and female brains. Dr. deVries was fascinated by this discovery and has been studying it ever since. He has found that male mammals may produce higher levels of vasopressin than females. This high level of production may be regulating behavior and compensating for a lack of hormones that are produced by females during pregnancy. DeVries began his work studying the brain back in the early 1970’s, primarily working with freshwater snails. It was not until 1980 that he became interested in

studying sex-based hormonal differences in brain chemistry after accidentally discovering a distinct dimorphic difference in the production of the hormone vasopressin in the brains of mammals. “It was by me doing a dumb experiment. I had looked at the development of a system in the brain that makes vasopressin. It may regulate social behaviors, but nobody thought along those lines at the time. It was a really a novel idea that vasopressin was made in the brain to control all areas of the brain,” deVries said. At that time, neuroscientists knew vasopressin played a large role in the body’s ability to filter fluid through the kidneys and made sure that fluids were re-absorbed into the body after filtration process that moved toxins into the urine for disposal. Vasopressin was also known to play a part in blood pressure regulation, but it was not commonly thought to regulate brain functions. In Holland, where deVries began his studies, it had been suggested that vasopressin was somehow connected to learning and memory. Already with experienced in studying brain development, deVries was asked by the institute he worked at in Holland to look at the development of vasopressin synthesis or vasopressin expression in the brain. It was by happy accident that deVries made the connection between sex and vasopressin production. In 1994, deVries began working with prairie voles, a species of vole that exhibited the highest level of difference between male and female brain chemistry that had been studied to date. “You look through the life cycle and you see not many changes in females but in the males the vasopressin content goes up and down. So we know that this big drop in vasopressin is matched by an actual increase in the message for vasopressin. So what you see is these cells dumping vasopressin in order to get something going.” deVries said.

When deVries theorized that the production of vasopressin in males may be preventing behavioral difference rather than causing it, things started to make sense. By blocking the hormone in the brains of the male prairie voles, deVries was able to demonstrate that the hormone had a link to paternal behavior. Voles with blocked hormones were suddenly hostile towards vole pups. Rodent females often go through pregnancy in their life cycle, and voles are no different. Female voles will only begin to exhibit maternal tendencies after her first litter of pups. Female voles that have not gone through pregnancy will exhibit hostile behavior towards pups until they themselves give birth. Since male voles are not able to give birth, compensating for a hormone that they cannot produce may be the root of why their brains produce an apparent excess of vasopressin. Compensation for differences between the sexes is not unheard of. “So I tried to push my colleagues to think that if you find a sex difference in the brain maybe your first thought should be that it’s doing something very similar as to the production of XIST RNA[X chromosomes females produce]… you have this huge sex difference set up probably for only one reason: to make sure that male cells and female cells act the same way.” deVries said. DeVries said although men and women may operate differently on a hormonal level, our similarities far outnumber our differences. “There are sex differences that we don’t understand, what I’ve been saying is part of why we don’t understand them is because we want to put a label on it that it causes a difference in function. Maybe you should start thinking about it at the other end as well. You should have two alternative hypotheses, one that it can cause a difference and one that it might prevent one.”

Dr. Geert deVries has been studying sexual differentiation in brain chemistry since 1980. Today he continues his work on vasopressin synthesis and release in the brain at Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute.

Prairie voles, shown here, were studied because of the extreme sexual dimorphic differences between their brain chemistry. Otherwise indistinguishable, both male and female Prairie Voles protect their young. In this image, the male (left) and female (right) voles protect their pup, who is nestled between them in this image.

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

New software for the Spring Desire2Learn will replace uLearn as Georgia State’s learning management system ANDRES CRUZ-WELLMANN

Associate News Editor

eginning next semester, Georgia State will replace uLearn, its learning management system, with Desire2Learn (D2L). According to Kenya Johnson, the marketing and communications manager at Information Systems and Technology, “Because Blackboard’s newest product did not offer the functionality needed, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, after extensive search and review, selected another system that would meet the strategic needs of its institutions.” According to Johnson, the University System of Georgia’s vendor service agreement with Blackboard Learning System ends Janurary 2013, prompting USG to consider other systems. While D2L provides similar functions that uLearn does, it also allows easier access from mobile devices, the integration of social learning tools and customizable grade books, among others functions. Some students are excited about ease of mobile access of the new program. “If it’s easier to get to from my phone, then I’m sold,” Shirley Smith, a Georgia State student, said.

“With uLearn, it’s too hard to look at things on my phone. If I want to check when something’s due and I’m not near a computer I have to go through to much.” Others are worried about the functionality of the program. “The only thing that might worry me, if anything, would be if D2L is drastically different from uLearn,” student Michelle Brandon said. “If at the beginning of the semester I can’t just log in and know where to go for everything, then I’d have to take time out of my day just to learn it. Though, I doubt the Georgia State would choose something like that, too different.” Though students will not have access to D2L until next semester, faculty have had access since Nov. 1, giving them time to confirm that their courses have been transferred to the new system. The university will hold workshops for faculty and instructional support throughout November and December. “Georgia State University students are invited to attend a demonstration of the university’s new learning management system, Desire2Learn, which replaces uLearn at the start of Spring Semester 2013,” Johnson said. “At the demonstration, you will have an opportunity to view the Desire2Learn environment, learn about its features and get your questions answered.”

vs. • Uses all browsers • Full access through mobile devices • Uses blogs and wikies • Customizable grade book for each course • Single calendar for all courses

• Best browser: Firefox • Limited use through mobile device • Does not integrate with blogs or wikies • Set grade book for all courses • Single calendar for each course

WILL migrate: learning modules, files (PDFs, documents, presentations), quizzes/surveys (and questions), assignments (including attachments), discussion topics, grade book columns WILL NOT migrate: any student date or student work such as assignment data, quiz submissions, discussion postings, roster and grade, grading forms, syllabus tool, mail messages

g eorg i a state un i ver si t y

greek life

New sorority promises community for Latina students The Alpa Pi Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon comes to Georiga State ASIA THOMAS

Staff Reporter

new sorority chapter recently joined Georgia State. The Alpha Pi Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. was founded at Georgia State on Nov. 11. According to Sigma Lambda Upsilon, the founders decided to bring this chapter to Georgia State to “charter an organization that not only focused on the needs of Latina women, but all women and especially minority students on campus and in our community.” The sorority plans to hold various programs next semester that will provide the tools and methods necessary to empower Latina women on our campus and in Latina communities. The Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority said events will cater to the social, informative, and educational needs of students on campus. The sorority also has expectations to collaborate with all of the Greek councils and student organizations on campus in order to create a stronger impact on the student body and reach as many students as possible. The official officer positions Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority as of now are Khyati Shah as the chapter’s president and Tiffany Muñoz as the vice-president. The elections for the remaining officer positions are pending and will be announced soon by the sorority. Utilizing social media, as well as networking, is an immense tool

that the Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority are doing to “increase our network of students and worganizations that we reach out to on campus.” Students can be informed about the chapter’s upcoming activities by following the Georgia State Señoritas on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SLU.GSU.

UndergradUate research conference

have You applied Yet? undergraduate students from all disciplines are encouraged to submit their scholarly projects for presentation at the conference.

Date of event:

Sigma Lambda Upsilon quick facts

March 13, 2013

event Location: student center

Founded on Dec. 1, 1987 at Binghamton University by Cynthia Santiago, Adriana Zamora, Carmen Ibeth Garcia-Quinones and Carol Elizabeth Torres.

Proposal submission Deadline:

Goals: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Service to the Community and Campus, and Cultural Enrichment.

notification of acceptance: february 15, 2013

Ideals: Sincerity, Loyalty and Unity (the S, L and U of each of those words are highlighted red on their website and are the same initials of Sigma Lambda Upsilon and Señoritas Latinas Unidas) Señoritas Latinas Unidas is currently in 61 universities.

January 31, 2013

gsu.edu/gsurc

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Foundation gives $10,000 to student Kerri-Ann Sanderson awarded KMPG Scholarship for third time ALEX OSIADACZ

Staff Reporter

“

he KPMG Foundation awarded Kerri-Ann Sanderson a $10,000 scholarship—for the third consecutive year. Sanderson, who has been a Georgia State doctoral student since 2010, said a friend told her about the scholarship, so she applied in 2010 and has won ever since. To qualify for the KPMG Foundation scholarship, applicants must be AfricanAmerican, Hispanic-American or Native American. Additionally, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be enrolled in an accredited accounting doctoral program. As part of the application, Sanderson said she had to provide a personal statement. She explained how she plans to contribute to both the educational system and accounting field by pursuing a career as a professor. “I’ve always wanted to lecture in accounting,” Sanderson said. Sanderson spent over 10 years as a certified public accountant before starting a Ph.D. program. “It was important to get experience in the industry, and then come back and share my love of accounting with stu-

COURTESEY OF THE ATLANTA DAILY WORLD Kerri-Ann Sanderson has won the KMPG scholarship every year since 2010. dents,” Sanderson said. The KMPG Foundation has awarded over 300 African-American, HispanicAmerican and Native American doctoral students since starting the scholarship in 1994. The goal of the foundation is to increase minority students and professors in business schools as a way to diversify the workforce and prepare students for

It was important to get experience in the industry, and then come back and share my love of accounting with students,” --Kerri-Ann Sanderson

careers in business or education. “It is important for students to see diverse professorship, because it helps them envision and achieve their goals,” Sanderson said. According to a statement from the Foundation, 74 minority doctoral students with the KMPG scholarship are enrolled in accounting programs, and, like Sanderson, have goals of teaching. According to the foundation, the Ph.D. Project in association with KMPG “attacks the root cause of minority under-representation in corporate jobs,” and “diversifying the faculty attracts more minorities to study business.” Scholarship winners like Kerri-Ann Sanderson, receive $10,000, and are able to renew for up to five years as long as they demonstrate progress toward their degree. KPMG Foundation President Ber-

nard J. Milano said of Kerri-Ann Sanderson, “Like all our scholarship recipients, she is key to our country’s future and we look forward to following her success after graduation.” Sanderson renewed her scholarship in early Nov. for the 2012-13 academic year, which marks the third consecutive year she has received the KPMG scholarship. “I feel very fortunate and look forward to giving back to organization,” Sanderson said. When it comes to spending the money, Sanderson said the scholarship will be used to pay tuition and other fees associated with earning her Ph.D. at Georgia State. Sanderson is also applying for research grants. “My area of interest is in auditor judgments and decision making, so auditors can improve and become more efficient,” Sanderson said. The doctoral accounting program at Georgia State lasts approximately five years, and Sanderson said she expects to graduate in Spring 2014. Aside from pursuing a Ph.D., Sanderson holds a B.S. in Accounting from Barry University and a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.

Campus Briefs Georgia State, along with 47 other U.S. colleges and universities, has been awarded the Higher Education Excellence award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. The award recognizes outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. This year’s Gala Holiday Concert will be on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The event will feature traditional holiday favorites as well as music with an international twist, highlighting the School of Music’s and the Rialto’s international initiatives. Georgia State, along with many colleges and universities around the nation, commemorated National Hunger and Homlessness Awareness Week as students helped sort food donations for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

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GSU (undergraduate and graduate) students can complete a 15-minute online survey below to provide feedback for an academic study about athletics and sense of community at GSU!

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Hairy merry men Ray Bailey

Kevon Gray

Derek Howell

Marcus Kernizan

Chris Sumter

By participating in No Shave November, Phi Beta Sigma hopes to shed light on a disease that only affects men. KAYLYN HINZ

Staff Reporter

Beard Facts

nstead of spending money on haircuts or hair removal appointments, people have let their hair grow out and saved the money they would have used at the barbershop. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is participating in No-Shave November in order to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer. “Previous months we have breast cancer and AIDS but a lot of people don’t know about prostate cancer,” said Phi Beta Sigma president Kevon Gray. During the entire month of November, every Monday and Tuesday Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity raised money through raffle tickets and contests such as a pie-eating contest

along with pamphlets from the prostate cancer foundation. Sigma Week also took place this month Nov. 5-11. The series of events hosted by the fraternity allowed them to do various community service work and continue to raise funds and awareness for this cause. “We are just trying to raise awareness because some men just don’t go to the doctor at all,” Gray said. Once the month is over the winning raffle ticket will win an overall prize. While every member is participating in raising awareness, some members have to shave because of military duties. For other members without hair it is simply because they cannot grow it. “Unless they have something from their job saying they can’t [everyone is participating],” said President Marcus Kernizan.

One beard to rule them all You don’t have to keep a face full of wild tumbleweeds during No Shave. Change it up a bit and carve out an identity. May the best beard win.

According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is most common in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is diagnosed in more than 9,000 patients yearly. And that number is slowly rising.

African-American men, men older than 60 and men with a family history of prostate cancer are most susceptible to the disease.

Hollywoodian

Patch Rick

Symptoms include: delayed urinary stream, urine leakage after urinating, blood in urine or semen and chronic lower back pains.

Mutton Chops

Jack Sparrow

No Shave November is the U.S. version of Movember. Wikipedia on beards: “Over the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as

The Bat

Abraham Lincoln decided to grow his now-famous beard at the suggestion

Russian Tsar Peter the Great imposed a beard tax on his citizens in an effort to westernize Russia. England’s Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I pretty much did the same thing in the 16th century, though for different reasons.

Men above 30 should have their prostate checked every couple of years, if not every year. But be wary, sometimes a test may be “false-negative”, where the results say you don’t have a tumor when one actually exists.

Testicular Cancer

to be associated with a lack of general cleanliness and a loss of refinement.”

who told him “all the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President.”

High-risk occupations prone to prostate cancer include farmers and painters. Nearly all men will get an enlarged prostate. While it will not increase your risk of prostate cancer, it will affect the results of your prostate screen test.

wisdom, sexual virility, masculinity, or a higher status; … also perceived

of an 11-year-old girl

You should know about: Prostate cancer

Van Dyke Movember, a combination of ‘moustache’ and ‘November,’ originated in Australia and New Zealand. Men who participated were also called “Mo Bros.”

Be aware, men. Be very aware.

Chin Strap

Ram

Testicular cancer is most common between the ages 15 and 35. Caucasian men are more likely to get testicular cancer than African-Americans. Men with a family history of testicular cancer, cryptorchidism, Klinefelter syndrome or abnormally sized testicles are most susceptible to the disease. The number of new testicular cancer cases has doubled in the last 40 years. However, the number of deaths from the disease has decreased. Due to better treatments, testicular cancer can be cured. Symptoms include: Chronic lower back or abdomen pain, a change or discomfort in one or both testicles, swelling and overdevelopment of breast tissue.

Mr. Hanky

Porn Star ILLUSTRATIONS BY AYSHA JOHNSON | THE SIGNAL

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Cancer Institute

OPINIONS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/opinions

from the editorial board

The trouble with guests...

f there is one thing Georgia State is doing right, it’s the speakers who come to campus. Speakers representing a wide variety of fields of study, along with well-known performers, have visited Georgia State in the last year. As with most things, sometimes these sessions are hit or miss for the students. One distinction that should be made by the university is the difference between speakers and performers. There have been a variety of very educational and inspirational speaker sessions like Lisa Ling and Mark Kelly. These are the good events that help students grow and learn, and inspire them to move forward with their careers and passions. The performers, on the other hand, leave something to be desired. Yes, many of these cancellation were victims of unfortunate circumstances: Rick Ross had a bad heart, Common had to save Haiti and Lupe is apparently afraid of crowds. So why bother? Instead of entertainers, let’s bring more Jane Goodalls and Deepak Chopras. Because it’s hard to imagine the kinds of wisdom Rick Ross and Lupe Fiasco could pass to the student body. College is not a concert; it’s a learning environment and the events that we host here at Georgia State should reflect that. There is nothing wrong with setting up entertainment for the students, but the university should look into

better options for offering student discounts for off-campus events. Instead of paying to bring performers to campus, perhaps the university could try to offer discounted tickets with a student ID for concerts at The Tabernacle, Variety Playhouse or even the Philips Arena. Then Georgia State could funnel the funding wasted on performers and bring more distinguished speakers to Georgia State. That is what college campus life should be about—offering opportunities that help hardworking students follow their passions. Case in point: the Jane Goodall event hosted by Campus Events was so popular that the entire auditorium and the overflow room filled up within 15 minutes. The students are hungry for knowledge and this shows it. Students may want the school to spend their student fees on bringing entertainers to campus, but it isn’t what they need. And, for the record, we applaud Campus Events for their Distinguished Speakers series, which have brought some truly accomplished individuals. Common, however, remains their only misfire. Kevin Clash a.k.a Voice of Elmo, was indeed a victim of an unfortunate circumstance. It is only logical to postpone the event and allow Clash to regain his footing, as one would need after being accused of having an affair with a minor.

No need to Secede

JAMES MCDOUGALD Columnist

o begins the most inept secession movement in history. Petitions.whitehouse.gov is a website created by the Obama administration in 2011 to gage the country’s interests. Here, anyone can build a petition for something they feel the President should respond to. For example, currently 3,600 people would like the government to “Regulate online pornography.” If one of these petitions surpasses 25,000 votes within thirty days, the President has promised to address the issue in a thoughtful, receptive manner. Since the project’s inception, hundreds of thousands of people have hounded the White House with tarted up status updates ranging from “Release the intelligence on Area 51,” to “release the information on the JFK shooting.” Currently there are more than five different re-

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Sabastian Wee Anna Norris

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ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Anna Yang

NEWS EDITOR

Terah Boyd

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ARTS & LIVING EDITOR

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SPORTS EDITOR

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AMI DUDLEY Columnist

campus health clinic is a safe haven, a place of refuge and security. Students visit health clinics for all types of reasons—contraception, STD’s, and illness. Students should feel comfortable during their stay at the campus clinic and should not feel humiliation or embarrassment. It’s the one place on a campus full of thousands of students where you should not feel judged. While Georgia State has a great health clinic that offers many services to all students, it seems to have overlooked one thing: the

necessary privacy of women in health clinics. Unlike Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, Georgia State does not offer a separate clinic just for women. Why is a women’s clinic necessary? Wouldn’t female students be isolating themselves? After talking with several female students who were visiting the health clinic I found their greatest concern was not why they were there but rather who may see them there and what judgement may come as a result. The reality is that double standards continue to exist, especially on college campuses. “The first things they’ll think is you’re a slut or you’ve got an STD or something,” one female student informs me during my visit to the health clinic. Our realities have been permeated with the notion that a woman in a clinic is a telltell of the woman’s character. But what struck me most were the remarks of one female student when asked of her thoughts on a separate facility for women: “I got into it a fight with my boyfriend and I wanted to come here. I needed someone to talk to. But I

didn’t want to run into any of his friends here. I didn’t want him to know I’d been here.” According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, women between the ages of 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. What the Georgia State clinic has overlooked is that many female students have intimate partners who are students as well. This can be a troubling factor when domestic abuse or rape has occurred. This avoidance in fear of retaliation or judgement can lead to continued abuse. While we are grateful for the services at the Georgia State health clinic, we must have more concern for the needs of female students. I am in no way saying here that male students don’t feel judgment as well when at clinic. Nor am I saying that they don’t experience sexual assault or abuse. But the stats are in staggering “favor” of women. Creating a separate clinic could prove to not only be “healthier” for female students but the entire student body.

STAFF

Editorial Department EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

essentially, it fulfills every single one of Georgia State’s five strategic goals. It’s win-win for both the university, the students and the city we occupy. Georgia State is not completely un-green. The Recreation Center boasts a Green Globes certification (not many rec centers in the country have them) and the new law building is LEED certified. But funding an Office of Sustainability through SAF is only half-assing it. SAF funds student activities, and it’s doubtful replacing light bulbs around campus and installing (and maintaining) solar panels would be considered student activities. The most this money will provide is activities and events to promote green awareness. If we’re going to fund this, let’s do it right. Make an exception and create the mandatory fee.

dent is not a Muslim socialist bent on destroying the country. But these petitions, my favorite part about these polite “requests”: Each of these states appear to be asking for individual sovereignty, as in alone. They haven’t banded together and formed a… You know, it’s not a collective; it’s not a cooperative; it’s that other c-word. So, even if President Obama gave this idea the thumbs up, agreed to part amicably, and gave each of these rogue states a terrorist fist bump on the way out, what happens to the newly formed People’s Democracy for Freedom of Florida? It would be a free-for-all. Clearly Louisiana can’t even help themselves. How would Arizona do without a national government? Clearly this lot would have to band together. In all fairness, though, Kentucky’s got it covered; they can live off bourbon and horsemeat. But, before breaking out your great granddaddy’s grey suit, keep several things in mind. One, this is laughably stupid. Two, the people who think this is a viable option are laughably stupid. Three, I know from eighth grade Social Studies one can’t simply rage quit the United States of America. The people behind these petitions, the people who signed them with the ferocity of Mr. Hancock on the Declaration of Independence clearly weren’t taught that sometimes crying and whining over the checkers board won’t change their circumstances. So, to each of these states I wish them the best of

Her safe haven

Make an exception, make green fee mandatory he Student Activity Fee Committee will be meeting Nov. 20 to decide whether they will fund an Office of Sustainability through student fees. While we fully support the need for such an office, we are in disagreement of funding it through SAF. We have written numerous editorials in the last two academic school years about the need for an Office of Sustainability. The simplified reasons are as follows: Georgia State will soon be the largest university in Georgia, both in population and real estate—it is only responsible to have a highly involved green initiative on campus. An official Office of Sustainability would bring thousands—if not millions—in grants to help usher innovation, internship opportunities and scholarships for students, groundbreaking research in green technology and sustainability—

quests, all uniquely worded, to “end the prohibition of marijuana in the US.” I am all for a citizen’s interaction with the Government. I am all for the lone voice raging against the machine. Sedition. Rants. Disagreement. I completely dig the first amendment. But these guys need to chill with talk of secession. Fifteen thousand and six people have signed for the US to “peacefully grant the State of Oklahoma [a] withdraw from the (USA) and create a new government. There are 17,528 people in Arizona who wish the same for their state; 18,787 for Arkansas; 19,537 for South Carolina; 26,892 for Georgia; 28,396 for Florida. Looking at these numbers individually, they’re quaint. A group of 20,000 people is nothing inconsiderable, of course, but out of a state? 20,000 people is a Thursday night concert at the Amphitheatre. It’s quaint. But there’s more, of course. 25,366 people for North Carolina’s secession; 26,139 for Alabama; and the big ones, Louisiana’s in second place with 32,683 signatures and Texas sits at 94,754. This country, like our initial overlord, England, has proven so good at letting go of territory in the past. Right, Germany? Japan? Cuba? Panama? I’d explore these people’s motives further, but we know how this story ends, “Amer’ka!” “Socialist!” “Where’s the birth certificate…” So it goes. On it goes. I didn’t think Romney was any more evil than I find Obama effectual. But the Presi-

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OPINIONS

rant

Green Bathroom Review

“ KEVIN MALONEY Columnist

he Science Annex is one of the newer buildings on campus. Normally when they build new buildings, they include new bathroom facilities (hopefully). These new bathrooms are better for the environment in that they limit how much soap you put on your hands, how much water is used to wash your hands, and how many paper towels you can use. Even the automatic hand washing stations stop working when your hands aren’t in front of them. Aside from a damp bathroom, a quiet bathroom is probably one of the worst places you can find yourself on campus. When I enter a quiet public bathroom and I see someone using a stall, I try to help them out by creating as much noise as possible to mask out their sounds because I’m a decent person. Most of the time this means turning on the automatic hand washing stations when I enter and leave the bathroom. When I walked into the Science Annex bathroom, I tried to wave my hands under the handwasher to create noise, only to find out it stops right when

Aside from a damp bathroom, a quiet bathroom is probably one of the worst places you can find yourself on campus.

your hand moves away. So now I have a choice of either looking like a hyperactive 12-year-old who constantly has to wave his hands across sensors, be some weirdo who dries his hands before and after he uses the bathroom, or spend time in a quiet bathroom. If you’re going to have a ‘green’ bathroom, put some speakers in there and play soothing music or something— maybe even put the DJs from the courtyard in the bathrooms. Nobody really wants to destroy the environment, but couldn’t we find a way to conserve energy that doesn’t involve cleaning ourselves after we use public toilets? I can accept the fact that I might waste a bit of water washing my hands if it means killing off fecal matter bacteria before I go back out in the world and touch door knobs, desks, elevator buttons, etc. When it comes to bathrooms; I’m more concerned about germs than my carbon footprint. Overall I’m going to have the give the Science Annex bathroom a 3/10: do not recommend unless you enjoy the sounds of people using the bathroom. I’m giving them credit for putting dividers on the urinals (although that should be a requirement for any bathroom in a modern society).

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Report Card Copy Corner Print Center

Cost: B+

For students who are in a pinch and need something printed, the Copy Corner in Kell Hall is a good place to go. The Copy Corner offers a variety of sorts of printing, from legal documents to banners, but most students will benefit from printing the standard 8.5 x 11 sheets. You can get four pages printed for ~35 cents, which is a fair price to pay to avoid standing in line in the library. The Copy Corner accepts cash, Panthercash, and credit cards. Make sure you have enough material to be printed before you whip out the Visa; there is a credit card minimum.

YOUR VOICE • YOUR OPINIONS Several states have petitions right now to secede from the Union. What do you think about this?

Availability: B

The Copy Corner has implemented an online document service that allows you to upload documents to be printed from home. No more struggling with a USB drive or e-mailing yourself important documents when you can remotely send your paper to the Copy Corner and pick it up when you get to campus.

Convenience: B

The Copy Corner is located in the bottom floor of Kell Hall near the Peachtree Center Street entrance. If you know all the underground short cuts and passageways on campus, it’s a short walk. If you don’t, just ask, because Kell Hall is a labyrinth of half-floors and dead ends.

Services: A

The staff is friendly and helpful, and able to accommodate most of your printing needs. Need a huge stack of papers printed for class? They can do it. Need strange sized legal documents printed on extra long paper? The Copy Corner is your place to go. Need a banner for your event? Copy Corner’s got your back. Want a new poster for your dorm? You got it.

Overall Performance: Pass The Copy Corner is a relatively cheap and easy way to get things printed on campus. For students who live near Georgia State and don’t have the time or ability to drive and get things printed, students can go to the Copy Corner for professional quality printing.

Name: Elizabeth Simmons Major: Journalism

It’s shocking that the country is this divided. I honestly don’t think they should do it, though you may not like what the government is doing but they do help you out. It’s not just your opinion, you have to think about everyone in your state.

Name: Qamar Elsaqa Major: Biology

It’s ridiculous, so what you don’t like the President? A lot of people didn’t like a lot of other Presidents in the past too, but that’s kind of what democracy is all about. It’s not like the President is making his own decisions, we still make our own decisions. If it were really that serious, Romney would have won.

Name: Larry Robb Major: Art That’s a pretty stupid idea, mostly because it’s kind of old-fashioned. It makes sense for a state like Texas to say that, since I’ve heard it from them more often.

Editorial Cartoon Name: Benjamin August Baxter Major: English

I think it’s extreme, although this country, its infrastructure is all going down the tubes. There’s been a lot of real crazy stuff happening, especially in the past couple weeks. But it’s extreme and it reminds me of Civil War times.

Name: Maria Cherian Major: Biology I think they should stay and see what he (President Obama) has to offer. He can still change the country.

Reena Patel Major: Biology

That’s just ridiculous. I can’t believe there’s that many people that really want to take it there.

COURTESY OF WILLIAM MIRACLE

SPORTS

www.georgiastatesignal.com/sports

FALL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS HUNTER BISHOP Staff Reporter

Volleyball’s test of waters

Panther of the Semester

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL With eight of the 13 players on the team being frshmen, the Panthers have used this season to gain experience.

Golf swings back

With a team mostly composed of freshmen, the indoor volleyball team struggled to land on firm grounds. The Panthers finished with a disappointing 4-20 overall record and 2-10 in the Colonial Athletic Association. They closed the season with a

3-0 loss against Towson at the Sports Arena on Nov. 4. Middle blocker Eliza Zachary ended with seven kills. The freshman was one of the most influential players on the team to the point of garnering the CAA AllRookie title.

Bright future for men’s basketball

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS Junior Tyler Gruca tied at 30th place at the last tournament of the fall as he shot for 223. Men’s golf has had a good start to the season, averaging a top ten finish in their four Fall tournaments. Jonathan Grey, the 19th-ranked player in the country, finished the fall season with a 71.17 scoring average, tops on the team. He finished in the top twenty in all four competitions, and won twice, at the Mason Rudolph Championship and the Brick-

yard Collegiate. They begin their spring season on Feb. 4, at the Sea Beat Seafood Invitational in Ponte Vedra, Fla. Women’s golf has struggled a little. However, they averaged a 13th place finish over four meets, with no individual winners. They kick off their spring season Feb. 10, at the UCF Challenge in Sorrento, Fla.

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL The team showed promise at the beginning of the season despite losing to Duke and BYU on the road.

Three-star guard RJ Hunter has shown talent so far, as he put 30 points on his first game against Life University and finished with double-doubles against Duke. Hunter, who also happens be head coach Ron Hunter’s son, is one of two freshman starting for the Panthers, with the other being guard Markus Crider. They have a returning star in point guard Devonta White, and a promising forward in transfer Manny Atkins, formerly of Virginia Tech. The Panthers have lost their first two games of the season, falling to No. 8 Duke 74-55, and BYU, 80-61. However, the team won the threegame Coaches vs Cancer tournament. The Panthers play Louisiana Tech next on Nov. 30.

Tennis enjoying an acclaimed season

Cross country with a chip on their shoulder

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS Jennifer Rubel was named to the All-Sun Belt third team after placing 14th in the Sun Belt Championship.

Cross Country has come a long way under Coach Chris England. In the past three years, the women’s team has won nine times, with a high of four this past season, including the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The women averaged a top five finish for all meets and finished 11th out of 19 at the NCAA South Regional. The men had a good season as well, winning twice while averaging a top ten finish for all meets. The men have won five times since England took over, and their improvements are evident. While they haven’t quite reached the heights of their women counterparts and their conference championship, they’re on the right path.

KATHARINE SHOWALTER Sport: Women’s cross country Year: Senior Height: 5’5” Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. The senior Spanish major is not only the ninth runner to represent the school in the NCAA national championship, but she was also the main factor of Georgia State’s garnering of the Sun Belt Championship this semester. Showalter ended with a well-rounded semester, full of other personal accolades. Showalter‘s achievements during the 2012 fall semester •

•

GRAHAM ROBSON | THE SIGNAL Led by senior Victor Valente, the tennis team look to repeat their fall success as they start spring competition on Jan. 11 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Invite. Victor Valente, senior tennis player for the Georgia State men’s tennis team, concluded the most decorated fall tennis season in Georgia State’s history, amassing nine wins so far. He is the first Georgia State men’s player to gain an invitation to the UTSA/ITA National Indoor Collegiate Championship, losing in the first round by a narrow margin to the No. 1-ranked player in Henrique Cunha, 7-5, 6-3. His tournament ended in the first consolation match, losing to #67 ranked Matijia Pecotic, 6-1, 6-0. On the women’s side, junior Abigail Tere-Apisah also garnered an invite to the UTSA/ ITA National Indoor Collegiate Championship, the first in Georgia States women’s tennis history, losing in the Round of 16 to eighth-seeded Lauren Herring (University of Georgia), bowing out 6-4, 6-3. She had won previously over No. 28 Kata Szekely (Tennessee), by a 6-2, 7-5 final. The women begin their spring season on Jan. 19 against Syracuse, and the men on Jan. 11 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Invite.

• • •

•

Career-best time 10:49.58 is only 25 seconds away from beating Georgia State’s record, set by Jenn Feenstra in 2001 Named Sun Belt Runner of the Year Forms part of the All-Sun Belt First Team Tallies five individual victories in the season Earned five Best Runner of the Week awards, selected by the Sun Belt Led the team in every single meet of the season

SPORTS

10A

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Golfers find their best swing in Atlanta

Laura Sanchez RHETT LEWIS Associate Sports Editor

aura Sanchez Z., born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, had never even been to Atlanta before she decided to attend Georgia State as a member of the women’s golf team. “I didn’t want to go to a small town,” Sanchez said. “I decided and came and thankfully I liked it.” The Georgia State women’s golf team is thankful that Sanchez chose to come to Atlanta over Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. where she also had an offer to play at Nova Southeastern University. The junior finance major has played in every tournament (24 and counting) since she stepped on campus in the fall of 2010. Sanchez started playing golf with her father at the age of seven and knew early on where she wanted the sport to carry her. “I always wanted to play golf and study at the same time,” Sanchez said. “I wouldn’t be able to do that if I would have stayed in Colombia.” During her final year of high school in Colombia, she sent her academic and golf resume to numerous coaches in the United States. With the help of a friend she connected with Georgia State, the University of Central Florida and the University of Southern Mississippi. Later in the year she drew the interest of Nova and eventually narrowed her choices to them and Georgia State. Sanchez said she chose Georgia State because of its Division I status, strong, female coaching staff and its urban location.

Being a student-athlete presents Sanchez with many challenges. Living in Atlanta gave her many opportunities and exciting new experiences, yet she had to manage her time properly at the same time. “The other side [to living in Atlanta] is you don’t have time as a student-athlete,” Sanchez said. “You’re either with golf or school and when you have time you have to catch up from when you were gone [to tournaments].” Sanchez also had to condition herself to playing an individual sport in a team setting once she arrived at Georgia State. Teammates can relieve pressure, while their presence adds to everyone’s. “That’s why you have a team,” Sanchez said. “When you play bad the other four are going to step it up. But you still think ‘I played bad so I’m affecting my team.’” Sanchez survived another pressure cooker in July as she became the first golfer in the school’s history to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur. After shooting a 74, including a three under par 33 on her second nine, Sanchez found herself in a playoff with four other women competing for the final four spots. A birdie on the second playoff hole secured her the final qualifying spot. Sanchez carried that momentum into the Fall golf season. She currently sports an average of 76.9 per round this year, her best average while at Georgia State. “This year I worked harder on my short game,” Sanchez said. “This year has been better and I just need to bring it all together.” When Sanchez does bring it all together, the Sun Belt Conference and the rest of the nation will have to watch out.

• In the 2010-11 season, Sanchez was named a NGCA All-American Scholar. • Showing strength in academics, she made the Dean’s List fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. • Qualified for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio. • In 2011-12, Sanchez played all 10 tournaments the team competed in. • Made it to the 2012 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

Tyler Gruca DAVID NORWOOD II Staff Reporter

lthough Tyler Gruca exclusively played baseball in New York, he ended up choosing golf as the sport he would fully commit to. “I actually didn’t start playing golf until I moved here... I played baseball in New York and I moved here and I lived on a golf course and I just thought I’d give it a try,” Gruca said. “I had some friends here that lived by me that actually got me started with it and then I liked it immediately and since then I just been playing.” Gruca moved to Alpharetta, Ga. at the age of 13. After getting the gist of what golf was about, Gruca decided to give it a try at a collegiate level, choosing Georgia State as his home. Despite the Panthers not being one of the golf powerhouses in the NCAA, Gruca was not discouraged from walking on. “I wanted to be close to home at first and I wanted to be in the city. I didn’t want to go out kind of into the country and be in the middle of nowhere,” Gruca said. “When I came to visit, I liked it immediately and I thought if I could maybe get on the team there’d be a chance I could start playing. And luckily, it just worked out in my favor – I have been playing since.” Once on the team, it was not long before the junior became a leader as he also was named to the All-CAA First Team in 2012 and earned 2012 CAA Championship All-Tournament honor. However, it was not piece of cake for Gruca to get there. “I played every tournament since I got here starting as a walk on where I wasn’t even on the team to now hav-

ing some scholarship and playing every tournament,” Gruca said. “I’m pretty proud of that just because I had to prove myself and I been able to do that.” For him, the leadership role is not a huge burden since every member of the squad knows their role, making things run smoothly. “Most people know me; they know I’m not very loud. I’m pretty soft spoken, quiet most of the time but we have a good group of guys so I don’t have to do much,” Gruca said. “We have a good time but we know when it is time to play and practice, what are goals are, and what have to do to achieve those.” Despite all his personal successes, he puts team goals over his. He plans for the team to have a big performance at the NCAA Championships as they will compete at Crabapple, Ga., approximately 30 minutes from Georgia State campus. “It would be kind of cool playing there. We would have a lot of people coming to watch and supporting,” Gruca said. “First we have to get there, set goals along the way to get there to put ourselves in position to do that and then once we get there it’s about doing the best we can” If he has good numbers at the NCAA Championships, Gruca could raise a lot of notoriety as he has been doing with all the accolades he amassed so far, but just in case golf does not work, he has a backup plan. “I’m getting my degree in business,” Gruca said. “I like to do something with business, probably work my way up into in a manager position.” He said he will just let the future determine his destiny and go with it. “I would like to be able to play golf but I know realistically the odds aren’t in my favor. I guess I have to see where it takes me,” Gruca said.

• In the 2010-11 season, Gruca had a scoring average of 75.38, the lowest in the team. • He was named to the All-CAA Best Team in the 2011-12 season. • Amassed the CAA Championship AllTournament Honors in the spring of 2012. • According to GolfStat.com, finished the fall season of 2012 as the top-ranked CAA golfer. • After a good performance in the last tournaments of the fall, Gruca finished with a 74.17 scoring average, second best in the team for 2012.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

11A

SPORTS

What to look forward to... With the 2013 season approaching, each spring sport prepares for competition. Find out where each of them stand.

Sand volleyball

AKIEM BAILUM Staff Reporter

The 2012-2013 sports season at Georgia State will be the inaugural season for sand volleyball as the newest Georgia State athletics program. On the team’s inaugural season, the Georgia State sand volleyball team will host a tournament on April 6 and 7, 2013. The Panthers will compete against Florida State and Louisiana Monroe. Georgia State chose Tami Audia, coach of the indoor volleyball team, as the coach of the team. Beth Van Fleet, who once competed against current Olympic silver medalists Jen Kessy and April Ross, is the assistant head coach. Seventy-five percent of the roster is composed of freshmen. Twenty-two-year old Lane Carico is a grad student with one year of eligibility. She’s once won ACC Player of the Year honors while at Miami. The sand volleyball courts will be located near the GSU Sports Arena. Georgia State will be one of only 25 schools in the entire NCAA with a sand volleyball program.

RHETT LEWIS | THE SIGNAL With a team mainly composed of freshmen, the Panthers will look to have an honorable first season.

Track and field

Softball After eight fall exhibition contests (four of which were played against Georgia Perimeter College), Georgia State softball looks toward the 2013 regular season that kicks off this February after an impressive 38-18 (13-7 CAA) record last year. Third baseman Paige Nowacki is back for her senior season after earning All-MidAtlantic Region First Team honors last year. So is Callie Alford, who earned second team honors in 2012 as a freshman. Georgia State softball finished as the runner-up in the CAA Championships to Hofstra last year with a 9-1 loss to the Pride. With 15 letter-winners returning from last year, head coach Roger Kincaid and the rest of the team once again has its sights set on its second title under Kincaid.

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL Sophomore Callie Alford finished last year’s season with an impressive performance.

Baseball

The first pitch of the Panthers’ 2012-2013 baseball season will be thrown in February. Last year, Georgia State finished seven games under .500 with a 24-31 season. They finished in the middle of the CAA last year by going 14-16. Head coach Greg Frady looks to improve on that. Leading home run hitter Brandon Williams and leading ERA-getter Ben Marshall are gone since they were seniors last year. Many others are gone, too. The team, though, does bring back infielder Caden Bailey who hit .315 in 2012 as a freshman. Drew Shields hit .303 last year and also returns for his senior season. One area where Georgia State must improve is their fielding. Their fielding percentage in 2012 was .956—last in the CAA.

PATRICK DUFFY | THE SIGNAL Senior Drew Shields started 49 games and scored 34 runs last season.

GEORGIA STATE ATHLETICS As the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the CAA Championships last season, senior Tamara Moore will be an important asset for the team.

Women

Men

Georgia State finished third at last year’s CAA Championships with a 122. That’s a drop-off from when they won the 2011 CAA Title with a score of 133. They’ll get this year’s season started in a few weeks in early December. While long jumper Angelia Nugent graduated last year, hurdler Tamara Moore is entering her senior year with the team. In 2011 when the Panthers won the conference title, she won rookie of the year honors. Last year, she won the Outstanding Performer award for track events. Distance runner Katharine Showalter is also returning. Last year, she won the 3,000 meters at the Sewanee Invite, and won the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Yellow Jacket Invite, Southern Invitational and CAA Championships. She won the latter with a personal best of 10:49.58.

It won’t be long before the season gets underway for Georgia State’s men’s track and field team. That will happen starting in early December. The Panthers were one of six teams that participated in last year’s CAA Track and Field Championships. They finished in a distant last place with a score of 13. It was the second lowest score the Panthers have achieved since 2007. Among those returning for head coach Chris England, there is Valentin Poncelet, who won the 5,000 meters with a record time of 14:41.85 at last year’s Southern Invitational. Poncelet also finished fifth in the 1,500 meters of the CAA Championships. Tyler Tomy is also back and finished fourth in the same event. He also competed in the 5,000 meters.

http://www.gsu.edu/studentcenter Styles

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WHATʼS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS! Supported by Student Activity Fees

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SPOTLIGHT PROGRAMS BOARD www.gsu.edu/spotlight

War Zone Plaza, Part One

Tuesday, November 27, 12:15-1 p.m. Library Plaza

GSU sororities enter the war zone and battle it out with stepping and strolling in the Library Plaza. Come witness amazing performances from the fiercest warriors to walk the earth. Fraternity members will perform at the Campus Events War Zone Plaza, Part Two, on Thursday, November 29, in Library Plaza.

Finals Break: Hawaiian Getaway Tuesday, December 4, 7-10 p.m. Student Center Ballroom

Stressed over finals? Come and join us on a Hawaiian Getaway! Have a relaxing evening and let us pamper you with a massage, as well as many games and activities, including mocktails, an oxygen bar, robo surfing and making your own sandy candy.

http://www.gsu.edu/cinefest

Georgia State University uLearn

Cinefest Film Theatre

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All shows free for GSU students, faculty and staff with ID. Guests $3 before 5 p.m. and $5 at 5 p.m. and after.

November 26-December 2 Coming to America

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. (No 9 p.m. showing on Thursday.) Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

November 29 Lady Terminator

PantherPalooza Spring Concert

Thursday: 9 p.m.

Let us know who youʼd like to see perform by scanning the QR code below or by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/s/Pantherpalooza2013

December 3-9 Lawless

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. (No 9 p.m. showing on Thursday or Friday.) Saturday-Sunday: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

December 6 Gimme Shelter

Thursday: 9 p.m.

December 7 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Friday: 9 p.m.

For details, visit www.gsu.edu/cinefest. Campus Events Styles

For more information, call Spotlight at 404/413-1610.

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www.gsu.edu/studentevents

War Zone Plaza, Part Two

Holiday Ticket Discounts! While youʼre writing gift lists or planning holiday outings, donʼt forget the great discounts available on tickets to movies, theme parks, sporting events and more through the Student•University Center.

Also, online discounts are now available to select home games of the Atlanta Hawks as they take on their 45th season! See our half-page ad in this issue for more information.

Thursday, November 29, 12:15-1 p.m. Library Plaza

GSU fraternities enter the war zone and battle it out with stepping and strolling in the Library Plaza. Come witness amazing performances from the fiercest warriors to walk the earth. Sorority members will perform at the Spotlight Programs Board War Zone Plaza, Part One, on Tuesday, November 27, in Library Plaza.